Cauliflower Power!

        

You may be noticing there’s more cauliflower now at your farmer’s markets or in the grocery stores.  This is the season for it as cauliflower likes cooler temperatures.  Growing up, I wasn’t a big fan - but I am now.  Not only have I discovered a ton of ways to make it, and make it taste GOOD, but I’m a huge fan of the health benefits!

Don’t let this low key vegetable deceive you – it’s a true nutrient dense powerhouse.

Cauliflower is low in fat, and contains some of the important B vitamins - B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B5 (pantothenic acid), B6 (pyridoxine) and B9 (folic acid). It also contains omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin K. It serves as a good source of proteins, phosphorus and potassium, and is also a source of vitamin C and manganese, which are both powerful antioxidants!  Did you know just one serving of cauliflower contains 75% of the recommended daily value of vitamin C?  It’s a great vegetable to add into your diet now that we are getting into cold and flu season.   

Here is a super easy cauliflower soup recipe I made this week.  Oh – and it is kid approved by a picky 14 year old ;)

Vegan Cream of Cauliflower Soup

2 tbsp olive oil

2 leeks chopped - white and light green parts only

2 cloves of garlic chopped

1 medium head cauliflower chopped

6 cups vegetable broth

1 cup cashews, soaked for 1 hour

1 tsp nutmeg

sea salt and ground pepper to taste

Saute the leeks and garlic on medium heat until soft. Add the vegetable broth and cauliflower and simmer for about 30 minutes, until cauliflower is completely cooked and soft. Drain the cashews and add to the soup. Blend the soup in batches in a high speed blender. Transfer back to pot, add nutmeg, sea salt and fresh ground pepper to taste. Garnish with additional nutmeg and fresh chives if desired.

This soup is perfect if you are on the Clean Burn Shape cleanse.  Enjoy!

Don't give up on your body just because it's fall.  If you have weight you would like to release or you would just like to detox and push the "reset" button, I have the perfect program for you!  Oh - and did I mention you EAT on it?

Clean Burn Shape - click here to learn more!

Some comments from past cleansers:

This was the easiest cleanse I've ever done. Thanks, Pam! - Rebecca, Chicago

Thanks so much for recommending this!! I feel awesome!!! Totally re-energized and lost 5lbs in 10 days!!! I can't believe how easy it was! - Nicole, Chicago

Pamela Schmidt
Raw Chef and Living Foods Instructor
Certified Holistic Health Coach
pamela@food2live4.com
www.food2live4.com
CleanBurnShape
312-802-1433

Thrive With Pam !: Your Comfort Zone

Thrive With Pam !: Your Comfort Zone: My Food2Live4 partner Jennifer posted a great quote in our cleanse group this morning.  "A comfort zone is a beautiful place, but nothi...

Your Comfort Zone

My Food2Live4 partner Jennifer posted a great quote in our cleanse group this morning.  "A comfort zone is a beautiful place, but nothing ever grows there."  Unknown.

Love that!  Your comfort zone is just that:  comfortable.  There's no adventure, no excitement, no growth - you may choose to stay there out of boredom and fear or lack of confidence.

There's another great quote I love.  "The journey of a thousand miles starts with one step."  As a health coach, I help people take the initial small steps towards reaching their larger goals towards better health - in all aspects of their lives.  

Is your goal to eat better?  Choose an apple over chips.
Is your goal to reduce clutter?  Take 10 minutes (set a timer) and clean out a drawer.
Is your goal to have more spirituality?  Set a timer for 5 minutes and sit in quiet and meditate.

Starting my health coaching business has taken me WAAAY out of my comfort zone.  I have always worked in business and sales and have had SOMETHING to sell.  Working for myself, I am selling myself and my reputation.  I had to ask myself - what positive things would happen if I stayed in my comfort zone?  Umm. . .nothing :(  But what positive things would happen if I put myself out there ???  So I started talking and sharing and posting and blogging and low and behold my business has been growing.

It's not always easy, so find yourself someone who loves you and will support you on your journey, whatever that may be.  And I'm always here if you need some guidance on your journey to better health and wellness.
And . . .speaking of being out of your comfort zone. . . in one of my last blogs, I posted a before and after picture of me in a bikini.  AACK!  I was terrified, but the positive response has been tremendous!  Between my partners and I, we have over 30 people on their weight loss journey with Clean Burn and Shape with Orenda.  We will help you choose the right program for your weight loss goals, provide you with meal plans and recipes, and provide support throughout the cleanse.  Email me at pamela@food2live4.com or find me on Facebook!

Some comments from past cleansers:

This was the easiest cleanse I've ever done. Thanks, Pam! - Rebecca, Chicago

Thanks so much for recommending this!! I feel awesome!!! Totally re-energized and lost 5lbs in 10 days!!! I can't believe how easy it was! - Nicole, Chicago

Some thoughts on the passing of Robin Williams

Many of you may not know this, but I'm a survivor of suicide.  Robin Williams passing affected me very deeply - as does any suicide  I hear of.  My husband took his life in 2009. It is a loss I grieve every day.

People desperately want to know - WHY?  That is the big unanswered question.  Believe me, I have asked myself that a million times.  Were we struggling financially?  Yes - but then why don't more homeless people do it?  Did we have issues in our marriage?  Yes.  But people get divorced all the time and don't do it. Did my husband have a lot to live for?  HELL YES. For me, there would be never a good reason.  But for the person living in the dark world of depression - suicide is the only relief from a life of pain.

The saddest thing about depression and suicide is the person living in that darkness is unable to see the lives they touch and the people that love them so deeply.  So, I ask you, don't judge.  It has taken me a long time to come around to the belief that suicide is not a selfish act, but is much like death from any other illness such as cancer or heart disease.  I hope out of this comes some good.  Awareness is key.

As for myself, I have come out on the other side.  And, for survivors, there is life on the other side.  Living through that experience has taught me not to take life for granted.  I experience joy on a completely different level, I love deeper, and don't sweat the small stuff.  My daughter tells me "it will all be ok in the end.  If it's not ok, it's not the end."

If you or someone you know suffers from suicidal thoughts or severe depression, I URGE you to get some help.  1-800-273-8255 is the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

I pray Robin Williams has found the relief and peace he was seeking.

Thrive With Pam !: Post Cleanse Pics!

Thrive With Pam !: Post Cleanse Pics!: Um . . .you know when you get the blue screen on your computer? Well, that happened to me this week and that is why this post is late.  FORT...

Post Cleanse Pics!

Um . . .you know when you get the blue screen on your computer? Well, that happened to me this week and that is why this post is late.  FORTUNATELY I backed up!  And I'm not always good at doing that.  So - if you  haven't backed up in a while - here is your friendly reminder :)

I had promised a post cleanse picture.  I lost 5 lbs this time around (I lost 8 the first time around).  But for me, it wasn't so much about the weight loss as to how I feel.  Cleansing every so often is soooo good for the body.  We take in various toxins EVERY DAY and while our bodies are very smart and work very hard to keep clean, sometimes a little extra help is needed.  The Clean Burn Shape program from Orenda is an excellent way to detox the body and get it back on track.  The have a 10 day program that is great if you have 10 lbs or less you would like to release or a 10+30 program if you have have a bit more to lose.  I provide meal plans, recipes, shopping lists, and coaching for my clients that use the Clean Burn Shape.  The thing I really love about this program is that you get to eat - clean eating!  You will have energy again and less of those pesky cravings.  If you want to lose weight, have energy, and see immediate results, email me at pamela@food2live4.com.  I look forward to working with you!

Thrive With Pam !: Toxicity and Cleanse Results!

Thrive With Pam !: Toxicity and Cleanse Results!: I will get a post cleanse picture tomorrow.  I ended up with a 5 lb weight loss!  I didn't really have a lot of weight to lose, but just...